SDVD vs VYM
FT Vest SMID Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SDVD or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SDVD is less concentrated, with 10.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SDVD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $912M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.14% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 175 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.02% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.44% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.86% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.2% | 10.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -29.1% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.1 years | $11,465 | $16,334Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.5%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 9, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 10, 2023 to Sep 11, 2026 (3.1 years).
SDVD vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 3.1 years both funds cover.
SDVD vs VYM Performance
FT Vest SMID Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF (SDVD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SDVD returned +7.44% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SDVD is up 7.02% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, SDVD compounded at +5.86% per year against +18.12% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SDVD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.2% compared with 10.8% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -29.1% for SDVD and -14.5% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDVD charges 0.85% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $4 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDVD currently yields 8.14% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
51.3% of SDVD's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 4.3% of VYM's money is in holdings SDVD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, SDVD as of Sep 1, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
89 positions in common, counted across the 172 positions we hold weights for in SDVD and 603 in VYM, against full books of 175 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SDVD (93.2% of the fund), and 79 for SDVD that do not appear in VYM (46.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SDVD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBP:PRFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 1.05% | 0.02% | 1.03% |
| WSMWilliams-sonoma Inc | 0.96% | 0.11% | 0.85% |
| RGAReinsurance Group Of America Inc | 1.00% | 0.06% | 0.94% |
| AIZAssurant, Inc. | 1.00% | 0.06% | 0.94% |
| THGHanover Insurance Group Inc | 1.02% | 0.03% | 0.99% |
| UMBFUmb Financial Corp | 0.97% | 0.04% | 0.93% |
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.94% | 0.07% | 0.87% |
| IPARInter Parfums Inc | 0.99% | 0.01% | 0.98% |
| VRSNVerisign Inc. | 0.91% | 0.09% | 0.82% |
| NTAPNetapp Inc. | 0.87% | 0.13% | 0.74% |
51.3% of SDVD is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SDVD or VYM?
SDVD has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDVD or VYM?
Over the past year SDVD returned +7.44% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDVD or VYM?
SDVD has been the more volatile fund at 22.2% annualized versus 10.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SDVD -29.1% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SDVD and VYM?
SDVD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SDVD and VYM?
51.3% of SDVD's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 4.3% of VYM's is in holdings SDVD also owns. They hold 89 positions in common, counted across the 172 positions we hold weights for in SDVD and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SDVD or VYM?
SDVD yields 8.14% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SDVD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SDVD?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SDVD is less concentrated, with 10.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.